Ornithogalum plant named &#39;Chesapeake Sunset&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ornithogalum plant named ‘Chesapeake Sunset’ characterized by its strong, upright, and short scapes; dense corymbose racemes with numerous orange-colored flowers; and glossy dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOrnithogalum plant, botanically known as Ornithogalum hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Chesapeake Sunset’.

[0002] The new Ornithogalum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Beltsville, Md. and Escondido, Calif. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new freely-floweringinterspecific Ornithogalum hybrids with unique and desirable flowercolors.

[0003] The new Ornithogalum originated from a cross made by theInventors of a proprietary selection of Ornithogalum dubium identifiedas 270-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent with theOrnithogalum hybrida cultivar Sunshine (Ornithogalum dubium×0.multifolium), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent. The cultivarChesapeake Sunset was discovered and selected by the Inventors as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Beltsville, Md. in 1993.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new Ornithogalum by tissue culture ina controlled environment in a laboratory in Beltsville, Md., has shownthat the unique features of this new Ornithogalum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar ‘Chesapeake Sunset’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, lightintensity, and water or nutritional status without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Chesapeake Sunset’.These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Chesapeake Sunset’ asa new and distinct Ornithogalum:

[0007] 1. Strong, upright and short scapes.

[0008] 2. Dense corymbose racemes with numerous orange-colored flowers.

[0009] 3. Glossy dark green leaves.

[0010] In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors inBeltsville, Md., plants of the new Ornithogalum differ from plants ofthe female parent, the cultivar Sunshine, in the followingcharacteristics:

[0011] 1. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have longer leaves than plantsof the cultivar Sunshine.

[0012] 2. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have stronger scapes thanplants of the cultivar Sunshine.

[0013] 3. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have orange-colored flowerswhereas plants of the cultivar Sunshine have yellow-colored flowers.

[0014] In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors inBeltsville, Md., plants of the new Ornithogalum differ from plants ofthe male parent, the selection 270-4, in the following characteristics:

[0015] 1. Plants of the new Ornithogalum are more freely flowering thanplants of the selection 270-4.

[0016] 2. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have stronger scapes thanplants of the selection 270-4.

[0017] 3. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have larger flowers than plantsof the selection 270-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0018] The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overallappearance of the new Ornithogalum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ornithogalum. The photograph comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘Chesapeake Sunset’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0019] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Beltsville, Md., undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 27° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 13 to 21° C. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants used for thedescription and photograph were grown in 12.5-cm containers for about 20to 25 weeks after planting rooted tissue-cultured plantlets in the fall.

[0020] Botanical Classification: Ornithogalum hybrida cultivarChesapeake Sunset.

[0021] Parentage:

[0022]Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Ornithogalum dubiumidentified as 270-4, not patented.

[0023]Female parent.—Ornithogalum hybrida cultivar Sunshine(Ornithogalum dubium×0. multifolium), not patented.

[0024] Propagation:

[0025]Type.—Tissue culture.

[0026]Time to initiate roots from tissue-cultured micro-cuttings.—About10 days at 24° C.

[0027]Root description.—Quantity: About 20 to 30 primary roots arisingfrom bulb. Diameter: About 7 to 9 cm. Color: 159C.

[0028]Bulb description.—Appearance: Tunicate. Diameter: About 3 cm.Circumference: About 8 to 9 cm. Color: 161B.

[0029] Plant Description:

[0030]Plant form.—Upright flowering potted plant; inverted triangle.Leaves basal with central flowering stem. Flowers arranged in densecorymbose racemes.

[0031]Crop time.—Usually about 20 to 25 weeks are required to producefinished flowering plants in 12.5-cm containers from rootedtissue-culture plantlets.

[0032]Plant height.—About 7 to 10 cm.

[0033]Plant width.—About 16 to 18 cm.

[0034]Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple; basal; rosette; sessile. Quantity ofleaves per plant: About 4 to 8. Length: About 7 to 8 cm. Width: About 3cm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous,smooth. Color: Young leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. Matureleaves, upper and lower surfaces: 137A, upper surface, glossy; venation,137A. Leaf sheath: Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Color:155B.

[0035] Flower Description:

[0036]Flowering habit.—Inflorescences scapose with single flowers,3-merous, arranged in dense corymbose racemes. Flowers not fragrant;flowers persistent.

[0037]Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the spring.

[0038]Flower longevity on the plant.—About one month.

[0039]Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 3 to 4 weeks.

[0040]Inflorescence size.—Length: About 7 cm. Width: About 4 cm.

[0041]Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 to 10mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 137A.

[0042]Flowers.—Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant: About 20to 25 per flowering stem; each bulb produces about 1 to 3 floweringstems. Shape: Circular. Diameter: About 3 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5cm.

[0043]Perianth.—Quantity/arrangement: Three petals and three sepals perflower; imbricate; separate. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm.Shape: Pyriform. Apex: Slightly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth,waxy. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 25A. Fully opened,upper and lower surfaces: Apex and center, 25A; base, 152A; glossy.

[0044]Scape.—Angle: Erect. Strength: Strong. Length: About 5 cm.Diameter: About 1 cm Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137A.

[0045]Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Diameter:About 3 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137A.

[0046]Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Single, subtending the perianth.Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Cymbiformis. Color:137A.

[0047]Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six. Anther shape: Oval.Anther length: About 3 to 5 mm. Anther color: 14B. Amount of pollen:Abundant. Pollen color: 14B. Pistils: Quantity: One. Length: About 6 to8 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-sulcate. Stigma color: 166C. Style length: About3 to 4 mm. Style color: 166C. Ovary color: 147A.

[0048]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0049] Disease Resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toOrnithogalums has not been determined.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ornithogalum plantnamed ‘Chesapeake sunset’, as illustrated and described.